Displaying items by tag: Peru

Peru: Unacem’s cement despatches for the first quarter of 2018 have fallen slightly due to a contraction in the construction market, delayed infrastructure projects and political instability leading to lower private investment. The cement producer’s income rose by 8.9% year-on-year to US$147m in the first quarter of 2018 from US$135m in the same period in 2017. Its clinker production fell by 12.9% to 1Mt and its cement production fell by 0.6% to 1.2Mt. It attributed the fall in production to a scheduled maintenance shutdown of its Atocongo plant. However, clinker exports through the Port of Conchán increased to 0.28Mt in the period.

Peru: Cementos Pacasmayo has seen its sales volumes of cement, concrete and blocks rise by 7.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018, primarily due to increased sales volume of cement to the public sector and the self-construction segment. Its revenues increased by 12.8%, also due to higher cement sales, as well as an average cement price increase.

Cementos Pacasmayo’s net income was US$9.22m, a 37.3% increase, mainly due to higher sales and operating profit. Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were US$29.2m.

Chile: Cementos Bío Bío is considering expansion plans in Argentina and Peru, according to the El Mercurio newspaper. The plans are part of its 2021 strategy. It also wants to consolidate its leadership in its local market.

Peru: Unacem is considering buying local engineering company ARPL Tecnología Industrial, according to the Gestion newspaper. The plans will be discussed at a forthcoming shareholders meeting in late March 2018. ARPL Tecnología Industrial is an engineering company that specialises in the cement industry. It has operated for over 50 years. It offers consultancy services, and technical assistance, development and project engineering managing services, as well as analysis and physical chemical tests and computer services.

Peru: Cementos Pacasmayso has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of and the full year 2017.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, sales volumes of cement, concrete and blocks increased by 7.3%, primarily due to increased sales volumes to the self-construction segment and to a pick up in public sector spending. The company’s cement-based earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 13.9% to US$32.3m, but consolidated EBITDA decreased by 35.7% due to a write-off in a water-desalination project.

For the full year, sales of cement, concrete and blocks decreased by 0.8%, despite the significant decline in sales volume during the first four months of the year due to the effects of the El Niño. It is important to note that year-on-year sales volume has increased steadily every month, from May 2017 through to the end of the year. Cement EBITDA for the year reached US$114.9m, a decrease of only 2.2%, despite the aforementioned detrimental El Niño effects on both sales and costs.

Peru: Unacem’s profit in 2017 rose due to a higher selling price of cement. Its net profit rose by 47% year-on-year to US$143m in 2017 from US$971.1m in 2016. Its income increased by 2.5% to US$595m from US$580m but its cement production fell slightly to 5.01Mt from 5.14Mt. Clinker production and cement despatches also fell. The cement producer blamed poor weather in the first half of 2017 that affected shipping at its Condorcocha plant as well as a general slowdown in the construction sector. It also reported that clinker exports more than doubled in 2017 to 0.55Mt from 0.21Mt.

Peru: The Peruvian cement industry finished 2017 with rises in production and despatches in December 2017. Production rose by 13% year-on-year to 0.898Mt from 0.886Mt and total despatches rose by 1.5% to 0.88Mt from 0.86Mt, according to data from Asociación de Productores de Cemento (Asocem).

Overall, the year couldn’t overcome a poor first half negatively impacted upon by flooding caused by El Niño Costero in early 2017. Production fell by 1.1% to 9.98Mt from 10.1Mt and despatches fell by 1.2% to 9.92Mt from 10Mt. Despite this imports rose by 21% to 0.62Mt from 0.51Mt leading to a slight total increase of despatches and imports.

Peru: A total of 925,000t of cement was sold in Peru in October 2017, an increase of 12.1% compared with sales in October 2016 and 3.3% above sales in September 2017, according to data from Asocem. Cement production stood at 922,000t, 6.3% higher than October 2016 and 4.4% higher than September 2017. Domestic sales stood at 873,000t, 5.8% higher than in October 2016 and 4.4% compared to September 2017. Cement production hit 8.19Mt in the first 10 months of 2017, 2.1% down year-on-year. Domestic cement sales reached 7.85Mt in the first 10 months of 2017, 1.5% down year-on-year. Total sales, including exports, reached 8.15Mt in the first 10 months of 2017, 1.9% down year-on-year.

Peru: Invercem plans to build a cement grinding plant in Ica for US$20m. The modular plant will have a production capacity of 0.25Mt/yr, according to the Gestión newspaper. Construction is scheduled to start from December 2017 with completion planned for April 2018.

Previously, Invercem has imported cement from HeidelbergCement via the port of Salaverry. It then bagged and sold it locally under the Qhuna brand. As well as building its own plant the cement importer is also considering expansion plans in Ayacucho, Cusco and Iquitos.

Peru: Unacem has filed a lawsuit alleging environmental violations against Cempor. Cempor, a joint venture between Chile’s Cementos Bío Bío and Brazil’s Votorantim, plans to build a cement plant in Lima, according to the La Tercera newspaper. The legal move is the latest action in a long running battle between the cement producers over the project. Cempor has responded by alleging to National Institute for the Defence of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) that Unacem’s conduct is contrary to the functioning of a free market.

Cementos Bío Bío and Votorantim originally formed Cempor in 2010 with each company holding a 29.5% stake. The other owners include IPSA and the World Cement Group with a 20.5% stake each. At this time Cempor planned to build a 07Mt/yr cement plant near Lima.